IPL 9: Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma keen to start with a bang

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma yesterday said his team would be looking to get off to a winning start this season and pick up an early momentum, something it missed in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League.

ROHIT Sharma. Pic / AFP

“Over the last couple of years Mumbai has not had a good start, losing the first four games. The focus within the team is to get to a good start,” said Rohit ahead of MI’s opening tie against Rising Pune Supergiants at Wankhede tomorrow.In 2014, when the first half of the tournament was played in the United Arab Emirates, MI had started disastrously by losing their first five games. However, they managed to turn it around at their home venue, Wankhede Stadium. Thereafter they lost to Chennai Super Kings in the Eliminator.

In the last season, Mumbai Indians lost five out of their first six games before they stormed to the summit clash. In the final, they defeated Chennai Super Kings in Kolkata.

Rohit said he would want to gain early momentum this year. “T20 is a lot about momentum. To start off on a good note is very important. We have stressed on it. Over the last couple of years we did not start well, but we went on to win the title (in 2015). We don’t want to do that this year.”